Botetourt Prevention Planning Team

Our Mission
To reduce substance abuse among youth in the Roanoke Valley by enhancing and improving the coordination of substance abuse education, prevention, and resources.

Promoting the Prevention of Substance Abuse & Violence in Botetourt County

WHO WE ARE:
We are a coalition of citizens and youthserving organizations working together to promote the healthy development of youth. The Botetourt Prevention Planning Team (BPPT) has identified teen Over-the- Counter (OTC) and Prescription (Rx) drug abuse and Underage Drinking as continuing or increasing problems in Botetourt County. These risky behaviors have been targeted due to the results of the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey taken by 6th, 8th, 10th & 12th graders in Botetourt County compared to the 2007 survey results.

Highlights from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (Data in parenthesis is from 2007)

6th & 8th grade survey results:
• 4.7% (4.3%) reported using OTC drugs to get high
• 3.7% (3.3%) reported using Rx drugs to get high
• 87.6% (86%) indicated that their parents feel it would be wrong or very wrong for them to drink regularly
• 15.6% (14%) had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days
• 53% (46.6%) felt it would be fairly easy or very easy to get alcohol if they wanted some
• 66.6% (71.9%) indicated there is a moderate to great risk in drinking 1 or 2 drinks nearly every day

10th & 12th grade survey results:
• 23.9% (18.9%) reported using OTC drugs to get high
• 26.3% (22%) reported using Rx drugs to get high
• 69.3% (71.2%) indicated their parents feel it would be wrong or very wrong for them to drink regularly
• 48.5% (51.1%) had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days
• 52.2% (58.9%) indicated there is a moderate to great risk in drinking 1 or 2 drinks nearly every day

10th & 12th grade survey results:
• 85.2% (85.9%) felt it would be fairly easy or very easy to get alcohol if they wanted some
• 34.3% (35.3%) had 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row on one or more of the past 30 days
• 32.1% (26.8%) of the youth who reported having sex in the past 3 months drank alcohol or used other drugs before their last sexual encounter

Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse Prevention Steps:
* Safeguard all drugs at home— Monitor quantities and control access
* Set clear rules about all drug use— including not sharing medicines and always follow dosing and physician’s advice—be a good role model by following these rules yourself
* Properly dispose of old and unneeded medicines– mix drugs in undesirable trash, seal container and put into garbage. Unless directed, do not flush medicines
* Ask family and friends to safeguard Rx/OTC drugs
*For more information go to TheAntiDrug. com

Community & Parental Efforts to Reduce Youth Access to Alcohol/Rx/OTC:
* As children get older and gain more independence their underage drinking and Rx/OTC abuse increases– help reduce youth access to alcohol and other drugs by monitoring quantities and locking alcohol/Rx/OTC drugs up and by knowing where your child is and who he/she is with.
*Report underage sale /distribution of alcohol to the Sheriff’s Department. (473-8230)
*Report to the Sheriff’s Department suspected teen parties— Sheriff’s Department
can patrol the area. (473-8230)
*Supervise parties on your property and let teens know the consequences if alcohol
or other drugs are found.
*If you will be away from home overnight ask a neighbor or friend to check on your “home alone” teen and tell him/her what to do if house rules are being broken. Parents can be held responsible for a teen’s behavior even when they are not home.
* Do not provide alcohol to teens—it is illegal! Taking the keys doesn’t make it any less illegal!

Additional Prevention Efforts to Reduce Underage Drinking & Rx/OTC Abuse:
* Kids who think their parents disapprove of their drinking and using other drugs are less likely to do so– tell them you don’t approve!
* Set clear rules about substance abuse.
* Set clear consequences and follow through if rules are broken.
* Talk with other parents—Everyone is not letting their kids “do it” - find out what they are doing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Botetourt Prevention Planning Team Members include representatives from:

Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (473-8230 or Botetourtsheriff.org)
Botetourt County Department of Social Services (473-8210)
Botetourt County Public Schools (473-8263)
Botetourt County Recreation Department (473-8326 or recreation@botetourt.org)
Botetourt County 25th District Court Service Unit (473-8250)
Botetourt County Citizens (Parents, Faith Community and Civic Groups)
Botetourt Resource Center (254-1468)
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare (982-1427)
Roanoke Area Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC) (982-1427 or raysac.org)
Comprehensive Services– Botetourt County (473-8641)
Local Media

For More Information Contact Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare (540) 982-1427

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Please view and print our brochure by clicking the following link BPPT%20Brochure%2009 **

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Members of BPPT working at the 2009 RAYSAC Prevention Planning Summit